Method of and apparatus for stuffing printed matter with inserts,particularly for stuffing newspapers and the like



June 17, 1969 E. GUGGISBERG 3,450,400

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STUFFING PRINTED MATTER WITH INSERTS, PARTICULARLY FOR STUFFING NEWSPAPERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 20, 1965 Sheet of 2 :uNBNToR Ennst gaff- 5 Hui 15w,

June 17, 1969 E. GUGGISBERG 3,450,400

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STUFFING PRINTED MATTER WITH INSERTS, PARTICULARLY FOR STUFFING NEWSPAPERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 20, 1965 Sheet 2 of 2 flvEAmIR E -l; Gun'lsbi J United States Patent Olfice 3,450,400 Patented June 17, 1969 US. Cl. 270-55 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of, and apparatus for, stufiing printed material such as newspapers with at least one insert or supplement. Generally, the method comprises the steps of: depositing each newspaper jacket section to be stuiTed into a traveling compartment,transferring each newspaper jacket section towards a station where at least one supplement can be deposited into the same while remaining in the traveling compartment. Each jacket section is forced against the leading wall portion of its compartment and an opening action is exerted by applying an opening force to a lateral open edge at a desired location along the thickness of the jacket section. The thus partially separated jacket portions are then completely opened and maintained separated from one another by a retaining force until at least one supplement or insert has been placed between the open jacket portions, and then the open jacket portions are closed. By this method the jacket section can be opened at any desired location along the thickness and not necessarily at the center. The apparatus comprises means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel which provides a plurality of compartments. Means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment, means for engaging a lateral open end of the deposited newspaper jacket section while in its compartment, and means for depositing at least one supplement between the opened jacket portions are provided.

The present invention has reference to an improved method of, and apparatus for, stufling printed material, such as newspapers, pamphlets, catalogues, magazines, books, periodicals or the like, with at least one insert or supplement.

Ever since printing has become one of our major sources of communicating the written word, technology has strived to increase the operating speed of printing presses, so that nowadays they possess a comparatively high hourly output, a fact which makes it necessary for any associated stufiing machine to be able to work at a speed equal to that of these high-speed printers.

In my commonly assigned, co-pending United States application. Ser. No. 489,847 filed Sept. 24, 1965, and entitled, Method of and Apparatus for Stufi'lng Printed Matter With Inserts, Particularly for Stufiing Newspapers, there is disclosed apparatus which not only operates ex tremely quickly and reliably, but also at such high speeds that is can be used in-line with a high-speed printer. The therein disclosed invention is based upon the principle of forming a loop at an outer extremity of a transverse fold line, then enlarging and opening said loop so that the newspaper jacket section or otherwise is opened into substantially two equal jacket halves into which a newspaper supplement or insert can be deposited. Now, while such disclosed invention already provides an extremely eflicient stuffing apparatus, the principle of operation is such that, by virtue of forming the loop at the newspaper jacket section, the latter is opened at its central region and divided into two jacket halves. However, in actual practise it is oftentimes necessary to open the newspaper jacket section or otherwise at any desired location of its thickness, even off-center, that is, not exactly at the middle of the thickness of the newspaper jacket section being opened.

Now, the present invention provides an improved method of, and apparatus for, stufiing printed material with inserts, and while it has an operating speed and efiiciency which favorably compare with the inventive apparatuses of my co-pending application, the present invention also provides the possibility of opening the newspaper jacket section or otherwise at any desired location. And the exact location at which such jacket section is opened can be varied as desired, for instance as a function of the thickness of each of the momentarily processed newspaper jacket sections.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved method of, and apparatus for, quickly and reliably stuffing printed material with at least one insert.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of, and apparatus for, stufiing rinted matter with at least one insert in a very eificient and clean manner, and at a high rate of speed, so that the inventive apparatus can be used in-line with a high-speed printing press.

Another considerable object of this invention is directed to the provision of an improved apparatus which opens newspaper jacket sections at any desired location and to opposite sides of a transverse fold line in a very quick, efilcient and reliable manner.

Still a further important object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for stufiing newspaper jacket sections or otherwise with one or more supplements, such apparatus incorporating new and improved means which ensures that each such newspaper jacket section can be opened at any desired location along the thickness of such newspaper jacket section.

A further noteworthy object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for stuffing printed material with inserts, wherein the printed material can be opened at any desired location, and the point of opening of such printed material can be varied in accordance with the momentary prevailing thickness of the printed material which is being handled by the stuffing apparatus.

Generally speaking, the inventive method for stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stufiing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprises the steps of: depositing each newspaper jacket section to be stuffed into a traveling compartment, then transferring each newspaper jacket section towards a station where at least one supplement can be deposited into each newspaper jacket section while located in its traveling compartment. As each newspaper jacket section located within its compartment is moving towards the aforementioned station, it is forced against the leading wall portion of its compartment, and then an opening action is exerted upon each newspaper jacket section by applying an opening force to a lateral open edge of the relevant newspaper jacket section and at a desired location along the thickness of such newspaper jacket section. This opening force at least partially separates the newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions, each of substantially desired thickness, and to completely open and maintain such two jacket portions separated from one another, there is applied a retaining force which keeps such jacket portions separated until after at least one supplement or insert has been lodged between such opened jacket portions. After insertion of each supplement between the opened, nOW substantially V-shaped jacket portions, the latter are permitted to close to thus sandwich this supplement therebetween. The method of the invention also contemplates regulation of the point of application or attack of the opening force so as to control the location of sub-division and thus the thicknesses of the two jacket portions which are opened. This measure enables controlled selection of the sub-division of the newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions of desired thickness, so that the insert or supplement can be placed more or less at any desired location Within the opened newspaper jacket section.

Concerning the apparatus of the invention such generally comprises means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel and which provide a plurality of compartments. Such compartment-providing means may be constructed as a rotor possessing the configuration of a star-like pocket wheel or can also be constructed in the form of an elongated endless conveyor arrangement, e.g. multiple strand link-chain. Furthermore, there are provided means for depositing a newspaper jacket section or otherwise into each compartment, means for engaging a lateral open end of the deposited newspaper jacket section while in its compartment to divide such newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions, and means for depositing at least one supplement between the opened jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

The details of the particular physical structure of the various components of the inventive apparatus providing the means for carrying out the various operational steps will be described in detail hereinafter.

Moreover, other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a preferred embodiment of inventive stufiing apparatus with a portion of one side wall broken away in order to expose internal structure; and

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating details of the various elements used for opening a newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a desired location along the thickness of such aforesaid newspaper jacket section.

In describing the exemplary illustrated preferred embodiment of inventive apparatus for stuffing printed matter with inserts or supplements, particularly newspapers, books, catalogues, magazines, periodicals or the like, only enough of the physical structure is depicted in the drawings to enable those initiated in the art to readily understand the salient principles of the inventive concepts. Moreover, wherever believed necessary, auxiliary mechanism which is not directly concerned with the inventive physical structure will not be described in detail, rather in certain instances references may be made to prior art structures suitable for use with the disclosed invention.

Turning attention now to the drawings, it is to be clearly understood that, solely for convenience in description, the embodiment of inventive apparatus depicted in FIGURES l and 2 will be described in conjunction with the stufiing of newspapers, i.e. a newspaper jacket section, with at least one insert or supplement, although it should be clearly recognized that other printed matter, such as periodicals, catalogues, magazines, books and the like could equally well be stuffed with at least one printed insert. Hence, the term newspaper or newspaper jacket sections or any equivalent term generally referring to newspapers, as employed herein, is not to be understood as used in a narrow sense, and it can be assumed that such terms are intended to generically encompass any printed material which is to be opened and into which at least one insert section is to be deposited.

By inspecting FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the therein depicted exemplary embodiment of newspaper stufiing apparatus comprises a pair ofspaced and parallelly arranged side plates or frames 10, only one of which is visible in the drawings. At each end of the side plates 10 there are mounted upwardly extending support means 11 and 12 respectively. In this case the support means 11 is assumed to carry the open-ended hopper 13 for a stack of newspapers 14 which provide the individual newspaper jacket sections 15. The other support member 12 carries a similar open-ended hopper 16 for the insert sections or supplements 17. It will be seen that at the lower end of the hopper 13 for the newspaper jacket sections 15 there is arranged a driven transportation roller 18, advantageously provided with a conventional rubber coating vulcanized onto its surface. Cooperating with this driven transportation roller 18 is a spring-loaded pressure or contact roller 19, which presses each newspaper jacket section 15, after it has been separated from the stack of newspapers 14, onto the surface of the driven transportation roller 18 to enable the latter to convey such into a given pocket or compartment C of a stuffing device S, to be considered in greater detail shortly.

At this point, it is mentioned that the mechanism for separating the individual newspaper jacket sections 15 from the stack of newspapers 14 does not form part of this invention, and devices suitable for this purpose are well known to the art. For instance, reference may readily be had to United States Patent No. 3,048,388, invented by E. K. Smith, Jr., et al., and granted on August 7, 1962, which refers to various known and suitable stack separation apparatuses.

In similar manner, at the lower end of the hopper 16 for the inserts or supplements 17 there is also provided a driven transportation roller 20 and a cooperating springloaded pressure or contact roller 21, the function and physical structure of which correspond to the rollers 18 and 19 respectively. In fact, the same mechanism used for separating the individual newspaper jacket sections 15 from the stack of newspapers 14 can also be used for separating the individual inserts or supplements 17 from the stack of supplements.

As already explained, the individual newspaper jacket sections 15 are fed between the cooperating rollers 18 and 19 towards the stuffing device S. This stufiing device S, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a star-like pocket wheel P incorporating a shaft member 22 having keyed or otherwise fixed thereto and axially along such shaft member a number of spaced discs 23, only the first of which is clearly visible in FIGURES 1 and 2. This first disc member 23 supports the various mechanisms, to be considered shortly, which ensure for quick and effective opening of the newspaper jacket sections 15 and the retention of such in open condition until the insert or supplement 17 has been deposited into each such open newspaper jacket section. The other nonvisible disc members 23 are arranged in spaced relation axially of the shaft member 22 in cooperating pairs. Between each pair of these disc members 23 there is fixedly mounted a pair of similar, flexed struts or bars 24, wherein one such bar is turned through approximately with respect to the neighboring strut or bar, as best seen by inspecting FIGURE 2. Each such strut or bar 24 incorporates a pair of flexed leg portions 25 and 26 which are here shown to enclose an obtuse angle.

By referring to FIGURE 2 it will be noticed that a plurality of such cooperating struts 24, each cooperating pair of which forms a radially extending spoke or bracket 27, extend in a row across the width of the machine. The number of such spokes or brackets 27 extending across a given row is dependent upon the width of the paper or otherwise typically handled by the machine. It will also be observed, by referring to FIGURE 1, that a plurality of such rows of spokes or brackets 27 extend in spaced relation and peripherally completely about the associated pairs of cooperating disc members 23. Each two neighboring rows of spokes 27 form the pocket or compartment C into which there is initially deposited at single newspaper jacket section 15.

Concerning the newspaper jacket sections 15, each is assumed, by way of example, to be formed of a plurality of stacked sheets folded centrally along their longitudinal edge, that is, opposite the open lateral end or edge a shown in FIGURE 2, and then transversely with respect to this longitudinal edge, as designated at the right of FIGURE 1 by reference character 15e. In the exemplary embodiment, the manner of folding the newspaper acket sections 15 can be assumed to be similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned United States Patent No. 3,048,388. The thus folded newspaper jacket sections 15 are placed in the hopper 13 such that upon withdrawal therefrom and receipt in a given pocket or compartment C of the star-like pocket wheel P, the transverse fold line or edge 15:: is disposed at the lowermost region of the corresponding pocket C, and the open side or lateral edge 15a of the newspaper jacket section 15 opposite the non-illustrated longitudinal edge is situated closest to the first disc member 23, and the hereinafter to be considered .mechanisms which are to open each newspaper jacket section 15 located within each respective pocket or compartment C. It is to be assumed that the inserts or supplements 17 are folded in the same manner as the newspaper jacket sections 15. Of course, the processed material could be differently folded, for instance could embody a stack of signatures tucked one inside the other, in the manner of a book.

It is also to be understood that the shaft member 22 is driven by any suitable, conventional sprocket and chain drive means, and its speed is coordinated with that of the respective mechanism for feeding the newspaper jacket sections 15 and the inserts or supplements 17 into the various compartments or pockets C. In the described situation it is assumed that the star-like pocket wheel P is rotating in counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow A in FIGURE 1, in other words, from hopper 13 towards hopper 16. As soon as a given newspaper jacket section 15 has moved into a pocket C of the rotating star-like pocket wheel P, it is continuously advanced towards the hopper 16. As such newspaper jacket section 15 is moving in its pocket C towards this hopper 16 for the inserts or supplements 17, it passes the operating zone of a blower arrangement incorporating a hollow perforated pipe 28 communicating with a further hollow pipe or conduit 29 operatively associated with a suitable supply means for air, such as a non-illustrated compressor. The air which emanates from the perforated pipe 28 is in the form of a stream or jet 28a which impacts against the rear or back face 15b of the newspaper jacket section 15 in the relevant compartment or pocket C passing in front of this perforated pipe 28. As a result, this newspaper jacket section 15 is displaced towards the front leading wall of its pocket C and, thus, is in a position where it can be contacted by a pivotable hold-down or press-on member 30 (FIGURE 2) associated with each pocket or compartment C.

By now referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the hold-down or press-on member 30 is here composed of a finger-like bar or rod member 31 carried by a sleeve 32 fitted onto a rod or shaft 33 fixed to the first plate member 23 by means of bolts 34 or equivalent fastening structure. Sleeve 32 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 33 and is normally held in its inoperative position, i.e. with the bar or rod member 31 out of contact with the back face 15b of the newspaper jacket section 15, by means of a torsion spring 35 which encircles the shaft 33. This spring 35 has one end connected with the bottom face of the sleeve 32 and the other end with the top face of a cylindrical shoulder 36 carried by a plate member 37 affixed to the aforesaid shaft or rod 33. Sleeve memher 32 is also provided with a pair of spaced and parallel lugs 38 between which a cam follower or roller 40 is rotatably mounted by means of a pin 39.

Above the sleeve 32 and fixed to the shaft 33 is a further plate member 41 which carries at its free end 42 a downwardly depending angle piece 43 providing a stop for the hold-down member 30 in its normal inoperative position, for instance as shown at the right of FIGURE 2. As also clearly seen from this figure, the plate 37 incorporates two leg portions 44 and 45 which are clamped about the associated shaft 33 and securely fixed thereon by means of an appropriate fastening member 46, such as a bolt or screw. This plate 37 further includes a laterally extending shaft 47 upon which there is rotatably mounted a sleeve or bushing 48 carying an upwardly extending arm 49, at the outermost end of'which there is provided a Wedge-shaped element 50 providing means for opening the newspaper jacket section 15 inserted in the associated compartment C. At approximately rightangles to the arm 49 there is carried by the same bushing 48 a shaft 51 which supports at its outer end a cam follower 52.

It will be recognized that each pocket or compartment C of the pocket wheel P has associated therewith a rod or shaft 33 which carries the hold-down or press-on mem ber 30 as well as the wedge-shaped element 50. It is also here mentioned that the first disc member 23 is provided with adjustment means comprising an elongated slot 53 slidably cooperating with a fixing element 54, which enables this disc member 23, and specifically the wedge-shaped element 50 carried thereby, to be angularly displaced so that it is possible to select the point of attack or application of the tip 55 of each wedge-shaped element in accordance with the thickness of the encountered newspaper jacket sections 15. In other words, the slot arrangement 53 and fixing element 54 render it possible to control the operation of the opening members 50 as well as the hold-down members 30 as a function of the thickness of the newspaper jacket sections 15 which are momentarily being processed.

Additionally, mechanism is provided which acts upon the cam followers 40 and 52 in order to properly operate in the correct sequence the hold-down elements 30 and the wedge-shaped elements 50 respectively. To this end, it will be seen that at the front frame or side plate 10 of the machine there is secured an upright bracket 56 by means of the fastening plate 57 which can be adjustably fixed in accordance with the setting of the wedge-shaped elements 50 to the top face of this side plate 10 by means of bolts 58 extending through elongated slots 57a. The upper end of the upright bracket 56 carries a support plate 59 having an elongated slot 59a in which there is pivotably mounted a shaft or rod 60 carrying a cam 61 provided with the cam surface 62 intended to be contacted by the cam follower 40 for the hold-down element or finger30. A spring 63 has one end engaging with an upright pin 64 depending from the rod 60 and the other end affixed to a bolt 65 secured to a pivot shaft '66 provided for the rod 60. Spring 63 serves to hold the cam 61 in the position depicted in FIGURE 2 where the cam follower 40 can ride upon the cam surface 62. When this happens, and as illustrated in this figure, the sleeve 32 is turned in such a manner that the hold-down finger 30 is urged towards the back face 15b of the newspaper jacket section 15 located in the associated pocket C.

It will also be observed that a cam plate 67 is arranged in front of the upright bracket 56 and possesses a cam surface 68 intended to engage with the cam follower 52 operatively associated with the wedge-shaped element 50 used for opening the newspaper jacket sections 15. Specifically, it will be recognized that when the pocket wheel P rotates in the direction of the arrow A, the cam follower 52 eventually rides upon the cam surface 68 of the cam plate 67 and travels along this surface, Whereby this cam follower 52 is pivoted upwardly against the action of a spiral spring 69. The latter normally pulls downwardly upon the cam follower 52 to keep the wedgeshaped element 50 away from the lateral open end or edge 15a of the newspaper jacket section 15 until such time as the latter is to be opened. Due to the fact that the cam follower 52 rides upon the ascending portion of the cam surface 68 and this cam follower 52 is thus rocked upwardly so that the arm 49 is pivoted towards the paper, with the result that the tip 55 of the corresponding wedgeshaped element 50 enters the lateral open edge a of the relevant newspaper jacket section 15 at the desired location along the thickness of such newspaper jacket section, by the time such cam follower 52 has reached-the high point 68a of the cam plate 67 the wedge-shaped newspaper opening element 50 will have sufliciently pivoted inwards to such an extent that the newspaper jacket section 15 will be divided into two jacket portions 15c and 15d. It should also be understood that the cam 61 is designed and positioned such that at the time the wedgeshaped element 50 begins to enter the lateral open edge 15a, the hold-down member moves away from the back face 15b of the newspaper jacket section 15, as best seen at the left of FIGURE 2, so that this wedge-shaped element 50 can freely enter the jacket section 15. Moreover, the jacket portions 15c, 15d are sufficiently separated from one another that a spiral or worm 70 can center the opened portion of this newspaper jacket section 15 and engage with the trailing portion 15d of this jacket section 15 in a manner to completely separate both jacket portions 15c, 15d from one another to form a V-shaped opening and at a spacing from one another sufficient that an insert section or supplement 17 coming from the hopper 16 can now be deposited between these opened jacket portions 15c, 15d. Here again, it is pointed out that the pitch and speed of rotation of the spiral 70 is correlated to the rotational speed of the pocket wheel P. By further referring to FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the spiral 70 is mounted upon a rotatable shaft 71 carried by a bracket 72 mounted at a supporting member or upright 73 secured to the frame of the machine. The shaft 71 is rotated for instance by means of a bevel gear arrangement, generally indicated by reference character 74'.

After the pocket or compartment C containing the newspaper jacket section 15 and the inserted supplement 17 moves further in counterclockwise direction A and out of the operating zone of the spiral 71, the trailing portion 15d of the newspaper jacket section 15 closes upon the inserted supplement 17 and this pocket C then moves downwardly towards a discharge conveyor means 75. The latter transports the newspaper jacket section 15 and the inserted supplement 17 coming from each pocket or compartment C to a further non-illustrated processing station. The conveyor means 75 can comprise a plurality of adjacently arranged and spaced conveyor belts 76, only one of which is visible in FIGURE 1, each such conveyor belt 76 being disposed between two spokes 27 extending axially of the rotatable shaft 22. Furthermore, in order to assist in ejecting each newspaper jacket section 15 with its inserted supplement 17 from the associated compartment or pocket C, there can be provided between each two belt members 76 an ejector rod means 77 (only one of which is visible in FIGURE 1) driven by a suitable chain drive 7 8 at a speed correlated to the rotational speed of the rotary pocket wheel P. These ejector rod means 77 engage behind the transverse fold line or edge 15a of each newspaper jacket section 15 and the therein inserted supplement 17, to thus accelerate and thereby eject such out of the relevant pocket C and onto the conveyor belt means 76.

While keeping in mind the previously described physical structure of a preferred embodiment of inventive apparatus for stuffing printed matter, its mode of operation will now be considered in detail. Assuming that a newspaper jacket section 15 has been deposited in a given compartment C of the pocket wheel P, and the perforated blower pipe 28 has impacted the back face -15!) of this newspaper jacket section 15 with a jet of air 28a so that it is pressed against the leading wall of this pocket C, it will be seen that initially the cam follower associated with this particular compartment or pocket C rides upon the cam surface 62 of the cam 61 so that the press-on or hold-down member 30 is rocked towards the back face 15b of the newspaper jacket section 15, to thus snugly press it against the leading wall of this pocket C defined by the leading row of spokes 27. As a result, the pages of the newspaper jacket section .15 are sufiiciently compacted together so that, assuming proper setting or adjustment of the discmember 23, the tip 55 of the wedge-shaped opening member 50 can enter at the desired location of the thickness of such newspaper jacket section 15. At about the same time that the hold-down member 30 bears against the back face 151; of the newspaper jacket section 15, the cam follower 52 starts to ride upon the ascending portion of the cam surface 68 of the cam plate 67 and rocks the wedge-shaped opening element 50 towards the lateral edge 15a of the newspaper jacket section 15, and by the time that this cam follower 52 reaches the high point 68a of the cam plate 67, the wedge-shaped element 50 has entered the newspaper jacket section 15 to such an extent that there is a clear separation of the latter into two jacket portions 15c, 15d. When this happens, the spiral 70 becomes effective at the separated trailing portion 15d of the newspaper jacket section 15 in order to urge such further away from the leading portion so as to form a large V-shaped opening between both jacket portions 15c, 15d sufiicient for the insert or supplement 17 to be deposited therein.

It will be apparent that all of these operations occur during rotation of the pocket wheel P and whenever the relevant cam followers 40 and 52 come into contact with the stationary earns 61 and 67 respectively. The now opened newspaper jacket section 15 appearing in the pocket or compartment C under consideration, is advanced further towards the hopper 16 where an insert or supplement 17 is fed between the open portions 15c, 15d of this newspaper jacket section 15. Thereafter, the portion 15d of such newspaper jacket section comes out out of contact with the spiral 70 due to the continuous rotation of the pocket wheel P, so that such trailing portion 15d falls onto the inserted supplement 17 under the action of gravity. Now this pocket C with the newspaper jacket section 15 and the inserted supplement 17 moves towards the region of the conveyor belt means 76 where the ejector rod means 77 act upon the transverse fold line 15a and displace such newspaper jacket section and its supplement out of its pocket C onto the conveyor belt means 76 for transfer to a further processing station. It is to be understood that the same operation takes place with respect to the newspaper jacket sections 15 which are deposited in each of the successive trailing pockets or compartments C. In this manner there is ensured that these newspaper jacket sections are properly opened at the desired location and are furnished with at least one insert section or supplement 17 in an extremely quick and highly reliable manner.

Instead of constructing the stufiing device S in the form of a star-like pocket wheel P, as depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2, it would also be possible to design such to possess a different construction. For instance, the stuffing device S may be constructed to partake the shape of an endless conveyor, such as the multiple-strand conveyor link chain disclosed in my previously mentioned co-pending United States application.

It is again stressed that although the invention has been described by way of illustration in conjuction with the processing of newspapers, it should be clearly understood and quite apparent that its possible uses are not solely limited to newspapers since it is equally capable of stufling periodicals, magazines, books, and, in fact, most any other type of printed matter or signature where normally at least one, or even possibly more, supplements are desired to be inserted. Accordingly, it is again remarked that the term newspaper or newspaper jacket section, or similar terms, are used herein in their broadest sense and in no way are to be interpreted as limiting the application of the inventive machine only to the stufling of newspapers.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Method for stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stuffing newspaper jacket sections having a transverse folded edge and a lateral open edge with at least one supplement, comprising the steps of: depositing each newspaper jacket section to be stuffed into a compartment with the transverse folded edge at the lowermost region thereof, transferring each newspaper jacket section towards a station where at least one supplement is deposited into each newspaper jacket section while located in its compartment, applying a holding force below the upper region of the lateral open edge to force and hold each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment during travel of said compartment, at least partially opening each newspaper jacket section disposed within its compartment by applying an opening force directly to said upper region of the lateral open edge of such newspaper jacket section, then completely opening each partially opened newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another, next inserting at least one supplement between the two separated jacket portions of said newspaper jacket section, and thereafter closing said two newspaper jacket portions about the inserted supplement to thereby sandwich such supplement between said two jacket portions.

2. Method for stufling printed matter with inserts, particularly for stutfing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement as defined in claim 1, further including the step of adjusting the point of application of said opening force along the thickness of the newspaper jacket section to be opened, to thereby selectively control the place of division of said newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions.

3. Method for stufiing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stutfing newspaper jacket sections having a transverse folded edge and a lateral open end with at least one supplemnt, comprising the steps of: depositing each newspaper jacket section to be stufi'ed into a compartment with the transverse folded edge at the lowermost region thereof, transferring each newspaper jacket section towards a station where at least one supplement is deposited into each newspaper jacket section while located in its compartment, applying a holding force below the upper region of the lateral open end to force and hold each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment during travel of said compartment, at least partially opening each newspaper jacket section disposed within its compartment by applying an opening force directly to the upper region of the lateral open end of the newspaper jacket section and at a desired location along the thickness of such newspaper jacket section, then completely opening each partially opened newspaper jacket section into two distinct jacket portions and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another, next inserting at least one supplement between the two open jacket portions of said newspaper jacket section, and thereafter closing said two newspaper jacket portions about the inserted supplement to thereby sandwich such supplement between said two jacket portions.

4. Method for 'stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stufiing newspaper jacket sections having a transverse folded edge and a lateral open end with at least one supplement, comprising the steps of: depositing each newspaper jacket section to be stuffed into a compartment, transferring each newspaper jacket section towards a station where at least one supplement is deposited into each newspaper jacket section while located in its compartment, with the transverse folded edge at the lowermost region thereof, applying a holding force below the upper region of the lateral open end to force and hold each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment during travel of said compartment towards said station, holding each newspaper jacket section within its compartment against said leading wall portion thereof, at least partially opening each newspaper jacket section disposed Within its compartment by applying an opening force directly to the upper region of the lateral open end of the newspaper jacket section and at a desired location along the thickness of such newspaper jacket section, then completely opening each partially opened newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions providing a substantially V-shaped opening, and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another, next inserting at least one supplement into said V-shaped opening between the two open jacket portions of said newspaper jacketvsection, and thereafter closing said two newspaper jacket portions about the inserted supplement to thereby sandwich such supplement between said two jacket portions.

5. Method for stutfing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stufling newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement as defined in claim 4, further including the step of adjusting the point of application of said opening force along the thickness of the newspaper jacket section to be opened, to thereby selectively control the place of division of said newspaper jacket section into two jacket portions.

6. Apparatus for stufling printed matter with inserts, particularly for stufling newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprising means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments, .means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment, each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means, means for pressing each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment, blower means for forcing each newspaper jacket section after it is deposited into its compartment against said leading wall portion thereof, means for engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions, means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween, and means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

7. Apparatus for stufiing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stufiing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprising means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments; said compartment-pro viding means comprising a rotatable shaft member, a plurality of disc members spaced from one another axially along and affixed to said shaft member, and a plurality of substantially radially extending spokes circumferentially spaced about and affixed to said disc members; means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment; each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means; means for pressing each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment; means for engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof 1 1 to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions; means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween; and means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each radially extending spoke comprises a pair of similar bracket members turned 180 relative to one another, each bracket member including a pair of leg portions forming an obtuse angle therebetween.

9. Apparatus for stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stuffing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprising means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments; means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment; each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means; means for pressing each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment, said pressing means comprising a hold-down member provided for each compartment, means for pivotably supporting each hold-down member for movement from an ineffectual position into a position to act upon the back face of the newspaper jacket section located within the associated compartment, and means for urging each hold-down member towards said back face of said newspaper jacket section; means for engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions; means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween; and means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said urging means comprises a cam follower operatively connected with each hold-down member, and cam means positioned to cooperate with said cam follower to urge each hold-down member towards the back face of said newspaper jacket section prior to the opening of said lateral open end by the associated engaging means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further including spring means for normally maintaining each hold-down member in said ineffectual position.

12. Apparatus for stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stuffing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprising means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments; means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment; each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means; means for pressing each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment; means for engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions, said engaging means comprisng a wedge-shaped element provided for each compartment, means for supporting each wedge-shaped element for movement towards and away from said lateral open end of the newspaper jacket section located within the associated compartment, means for urging each wedge-shaped element towards said lateral open end of a newspaper jacket section located within its associated compartment subsequent to said hold-down member having pressed the newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion thereof, and

means for returning each wedge-shaped element into an ineifectual position out of contact with said lateral open end of the associated newspaper jacket section; means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween; and means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said urging means comprises a cam follower operably connected with each wedge-shaped element and a cam member for acting upon each cam follower.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said returning means comprises spring means cooperating with each wedge-shaped element.

15. Apparatus for stufiing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stufiing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprisng means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments, means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment, each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means, means for pressing each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment, means for engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions, means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween, said means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another comprising a rotatably mounted spiral positioned to move into the opening formed by the associated wedge-shaped element between the separated jacket portions, and means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

16. Apparatus for stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stuffing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprising means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments, means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment, each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means, means for pressing each newspaper jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment, means for engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions, means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween, means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section, common support means for said pressing means and said engaging means, and adjustment means provided for said common support means to enable the operable position of both said pressing means and said engaging means to be conjointly regulated.

17. Apparatus for stuffing printed matter with inserts, particularly for stuffing newspaper jacket sections with at least one supplement, comprising means mounted for movement along a predetermined path of travel providing a plurality of compartments, means for depositing a newspaper jacket section into each compartment, each compartment including a leading wall portion and a trailing wall portion with respect to the direction of the movement of said compartment-providing means, means for pressing below the upper region of a lateral open edge of each newspaper jacket section to force and hold the jacket section against the leading wall portion of its compartment, means for directly engaging a lateral open end of each newspaper jacket section within its compartment at a predetermined location along the thickness of said newspaper jacket section and in the neighborhood of the upper region thereof to at least partially divide the latter into two jacket portions, means for completely opening and keeping said two jacket portions separated from one another until at least one supplement is inserted therebetween, and means for depositing at least one supplement between the separated jacket portions of each newspaper jacket section.

14 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, further including means for ejecting each newspaper jacket section which has been stulfed with at least one supplement from its compartment, and means for receiving the ejected newspaper jacket section together with its supplement for transporting the same to a given location.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1923 Halvorsen 270-55 1/1932 Hathaway 27055 

